Nechnitz and Rote Wand

The Nechnitz high plateau lies between Tyrnau and Fladnitz, and therefore exactly between the Schöckel to the south and the Rote Wand to the north. On clear days, both look close enough to touch! Two Almenland innkeepers invite you to stop on the Nechnitz, a starting point for many hikes.

The Rote Wand is a south-east facing rock fall, coloured red by inclusions of reddish limestone, and is best appreciated by the light of the morning sun. Ibexes that the Rote Wand is widely known for are frequently encountered here as well. A veritable sea of bear’s ear (Primula auricula balbisii), a rare member of the primrose family that is strictly protected, grows on the cliffs in the spring.

The name Nechnitz goes back to a small plant called the manyseed. The name is first mentioned in documents in the year 1240 (No(e)ctenz, Nochtenz). With a few changes, becoming Nachtnitz by the year 1456, the name is derived from the Slavian nohtnica (manyseed). The Nechnitz plateau is about 1 km wide and transitions into the “Haseben” (Hausebner). Haseben comes from hasen = flat. Then there is the local district of Schöngrund. It was only cleared later on. Each district used to belong to a different dominion. Schöngrund belonged to the dominion of Semriacher, the local district of Nechnitz belonged to Stubenberg and the Haseben and Frankenhofstatt, consisting of 4 estates, belonged to the dominion of Stubegg.